Thanksgiving Re-Listen: I Blew Up My Life

Summary

Podcast Summary: De-Influenced with Dani + Jordan

Episode: Thanksgiving Re-Listen: I Blew Up My Life

Release Date: November 27, 2025
Hosts: Dani Austin & Jordan
Network: Dear Media

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Episode Overview

This particularly raw and vulnerable episode revolves around Dani Austin’s decision to step back from her high-profile digital influencer life—what she and Jordan refer to as "blowing up her life." Dani walks listeners through her experience of hitting a crossroads in 2024: professional success was at its peak, but she felt emotionally empty, perpetually ill, and disconnected from herself, her faith, and her family. The couple reflect on how ambition, identity, and external expectations can become toxic, and how rediscovering their priorities—especially as parents—transformed their life, marriage, and sense of purpose. The conversation is intimate, candid, and full of actionable wisdom for creators, parents, and anyone rethinking the hustle mentality.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter: Affirmation & Gender Stereotypes

• Dani and Jordan discuss the power of affirmation, especially for men.
  • Funny anecdote about Dani complimenting their producer’s hair and workout results.
  • Quote:
    • "Guys just so crave this affirmation. I was like, danny, that man will remember this forever." – Jordan, [00:41]

2. Childhood Influences & Media Diets

• Jordan reminisces about growing up watching inappropriate movies and how parenting styles impact children.
  • Contrasts his own upbringing (lots of freedom) vs. a friend’s (very restricted, leading to rebellion).
  • Insight: “You really can't control how your kids are going to end up.” – Jordan, [04:11]

3. Setting the Stage: Why Dani "Blew Up" Her Life

• Dani starts opening up about why she took a social media break, despite massive career milestones in 2024.
  • Achievements: Launched a scent line, multiple big product collaborations, Divi business growth, speaking at major events, Forbes list, and large giveaways—all while pregnant ([06:13]-[07:49]).
  • Underlying Strain: High expectations and the pressure to excel were causing deteriorating mental health and dissatisfaction.
  • Quote:
    • "I'm so freaking hard on myself. The expectations I have on myself are brutal enough." – Dani, [07:52]

4. The Problem With Perpetual Hustle

• Dani explains how her relentless push for more (in career and validation) ultimately caused deep discontent and affected her family.
  • Felt she was never enough: “…there was always something more. And I think it really started to affect my mental health as my kids got older…” – [08:36]
  • Metaphor: Describes her life as “the hamster wheel.”
  • Quote:
    • "You were stuck. We called it internally, the hamster wheel." – Jordan, [11:44]

5. Physical and Mental Burnout

• Recounts a year of constant illness (10 months out of 12)—flu, Covid, and complications from pregnancy and postpartum. Refusal to slow down brought her to a breaking point.
  • Quote:
    • “I was always sick like this, but then I just wouldn't stop and I would just do more and more.” – Dani, [12:31]

6. Identity, Childhood Patterns & Social Media as Drug

• Dani delves into her childhood need for achievement as a means to be lovable and worthy, amplified by social media 'dopamine hits.'
  • Deep disconnection from her “authentic self”—a concept borrowed from Dr. Gabor Maté.
  • Felt responsibility for her 3 million followers outweighed attention to her three kids.
  • Quote:
    • “I prioritized the 3 million people over the 3 people now I have in my home, which are my kids.” – Dani, [17:39]

7. Radically Changing Course: The Break

• Dani describes consciously stepping away from the internet—and most people in her life—to focus on “inner healing.”
  • Needed a dramatic, all-at-once change rather than incremental adjustments.
  • Sat with uncomfortable questions about self-worth, contentment, and her values.

8. Rebuilding: Faith as Foundation

• Faith became her new anchor—intense immersion in prayer, scripture, and worship helped her find stability.
  • Quote:
    • “I have gone to insane lengths in my life to pursue my career … why am I not going to extreme lengths in my faith?” – Dani, [27:39]

9. Protecting Family & Redefining Success

• Solidifies non-negotiables around family time, self-care, and therapy/counseling, making those the ‘boulders’ of her schedule.
  • Lesson: Letting go of relentless output brought unexpected professional blessings, too (Divi product awards, nominations, etc.).

10. Honest Talk on Creator Culture & Advice

• Calls out the unhealthy, inhumane pace of influencer culture:
  • Encourages fellow creators to assess & write down the type of person they want to be—and to be ruthless about cutting out what isn’t serving them.
  • "You would be shocked at how much you're gonna learn about yourself when you just stop. ... I lost millions of dollars in November … and I would do it all over again." – Dani, [60:16]

11. Practicing & Teaching Gratitude

• Both Dani and Jordan share how daily gratitude—listing three things each day—changed their perspective and helped them through the hardest times.
  • “It doesn't take much ... it was never the big things I was grateful for... to be happy, I need my family and my kids, something active, and a cup of coffee.” – Jordan, [63:35]

12. Restored Purpose & Spiritual Realignment

• Dani shares feeling like a 'winner'—not because of achievement, but because she believes “God has already won.”
  • Ultimate goal: Use her platform to serve others and her faith, not just her own ambition.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Men & Affirmation: "Guys just so crave this affirmation. I was like, danny, that man will remember this forever." – Jordan, [00:41]
• On Maternal Guilt: "I prioritized the 3 million people over the 3 people now I have in my home." – Dani, [17:39]
• On Hitting Rock Bottom: "When I tell you guys, like, my soul was dead inside ... I felt literally nothing." – Dani, [10:50]
• On Career Hustle: "You were stuck. We called it internally, the hamster wheel." – Jordan, [11:44]
• On Real Change: "I have gone to insane lengths in my life to pursue my career… why am I not going to extreme lengths in my faith?" – Dani, [27:39]
• On Letting Go: "The hardest thing for me was being okay with not being a hundred percent on my A game when it came to my career." – Dani, [49:37]
• On Professional Success 'Without Trying': "It really kind of almost allowed for you to take a step back and for God to be like, hey, I got you. Yeah, like, this is. This all isn't you." – Jordan, [51:24]
• Advice to Creators: "I'm not telling every creator to blow their life up, but I think you would be shocked at how much you're gonna learn about yourself...when you just stop." – Dani, [59:37-60:16]
• On Rebuilding: "Building it back was the fun part. Honestly, looking at my day and being like, all right, what book am I gonna read? What prayer am I gonna say?...that intentionality in my life has made a huge difference." – Dani, [61:59]
• On Gratitude as Healing: "Reflecting every day on three things that you're grateful for ... could actually change your life." – Dani, [65:48-66:40]
• On Spiritual Identity: "I feel like a winner ... I feel like God's telling me, like, hey, like, we already won. Like, calm down." – Dani, [71:00-72:19]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Affirmation & Opening Banter: [00:08–01:49]
• Upbringing & Parenting Reflections: [02:18–04:23]
• Why Dani Stepped Away: [05:34–10:50]
• The Hamster Wheel / Burnout: [11:44–12:19]
• Physical Burnout & Health: [12:31–13:42]
• Childhood Patterns & Social Media: [14:27–17:39]
• Blowing Up Her Life & The Break: [18:58–22:53]
• Faith & Reorientation: [27:39–33:45]
• Marriage, Family, and New Priorities: [42:21–46:17]
• How Success Came When She Let Go: [51:15–52:54]
• Advice for Creators/Influencers: [55:15–60:16]
• The Power of Gratitude: [65:48–67:10]
• Reflections on Identity: [71:00–72:20]

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Takeaways for Listeners

• Ambition and “doing it all” comes at a price—especially for family, health, and self-esteem.
• Real change often requires drastic action and stepping into discomfort.
• Write down the person you want to be, set real boundaries, and don’t be afraid to disappoint the crowd if it means serving your true callings.
• Prioritize family and inner wellbeing over external validation.
• Simple gratitude practices can transform perspective—even in seasons of loss or chaos.
• Faith and authenticity are at the center of a healthier, more fulfilling life.

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For anyone feeling stuck on the career 'hamster wheel,' battling parenting guilt, or struggling to step away from external validation, this episode brings hope, real strategies, and the reassurance that transformation is possible—even if it means blowing things up first.

Transcript

[Danny Austin]

Foreign.

[Podcast Host / Advertiser]

Podcast is a Dr. Media production.

[Danny Austin]

Hello, and welcome back to your favorite podcast, D Influence. I, like, kind of forgot what our. What our intro was like. I'm glad that you said D Influence, because I was forgetting. It's the postpartum brain too, which is a real thing.

[Jordan]

I have a funny story to tell. So we have a producer in the room. It's a male, and he. He clearly, like, did something different with his hair. And Danny sits down.

[Danny Austin]

I feel like he's lost, like, ten pounds, too.

[Jordan]

Hold on. So.

[Danny Austin]

Nailed it.

[Jordan]

He said ten pounds, he sits down or Danny sits down. She's like, oh, my gosh, did you do something with your hair? And he's like, yeah, actually, like, you know, I've been growing it out. And she's like, have you been working out? And I go, danny, that man. There's like this meme on the Internet of like, you know, guys are always like. One time this grandma told me seven years ago that I looked handsome. And I remembered it forever. Like, guys just so crave this affirmation. I was like, danny, that man will remember.

[Danny Austin]

That's.

[Jordan]

This forever.

[Danny Austin]

That's so funny because you would assume, like, men wouldn't, but everybody's like that.

[Jordan]

No, every man wants, like, some type of affirmation, I think. But what's so funny about this story, and this is the shadow side of this.

[Danny Austin]

You look very handsome today.

[Jordan]

No, no, no. Let me tell you have been working out like a fiend for three months, and you have never walked in the.

[Danny Austin]

Room and go, babe, okay, that is.

[Jordan]

I have to take my shirt off and take all of my clothes off, and I have to flex in front of you. And then I say, babe, do you see this? And you still ignore me because you.

[Danny Austin]

Literally do it every morning and every night you do it non stop. So it's gotten to the point where I'm like, yes, you look good.

[Jordan]

It's just funny. That was really sweet.

[Danny Austin]

I have noticed that, like, you. You're looking more buff. Yeah.

[Jordan]

And so is. So is Nathan.

[Danny Austin]

Yeah, exactly. Every. Everybody, it's a. It's a new year.

[Jordan]

Yeah, New year. New year.

[Danny Austin]

Everyone except for me, really. Actually, did you notice today I'm wearing something outside of sweatpants? Yeah, I'm. It's giving a little Ms. Frizzle. But is it Ms. Frizzle? That's her name. Magic School Bus.

[Jordan]

Oh, I wouldn't remember.

[Danny Austin]

Magic School Bus.

[Jordan]

I never really watched that show.

[Danny Austin]

That was like a cornerstone of my. My youth. You didn't watch it at school? No, that's like a public school, like, novel, novelty.

[Jordan]

No, Never watched it at school.

[Danny Austin]

Oh, man, we watched it.

[Jordan]

The only time I remember watching that is maybe in, like, third grade. You know those big vans that had the TVs in them?

[Danny Austin]

Yeah.

[Jordan]

Like, I would watch Dragon Tales, I think, and Magic School Bus on, like, the way to, like, third grade. But I never, like, got into it after that.

[Danny Austin]

Where did you get a big. Who was picking you up from school?

[Jordan]

I actually don't remember. Maybe it was like a neighborhood carpool. He was a stranger.

[Danny Austin]

He was a stranger. Oh, gosh.

[Jordan]

The other thing about my media diet growing up is we've talked about this, I think, before, and this is no knock on parenting, but I feel like I watched American Pie when I was, like, 9 years old.

[Danny Austin]

That was definitely not okay.

[Jordan]

Well, I. I think that. I don't really know. We just had, like, so many DVDs, and they were all rated R. And my. I just remember my parents being totally cool that I watched them.

[Danny Austin]

You're like. You're, like 8 years old. They're like, nah, Jordan's cool. Like, he watches like.

[Jordan]

I remember being you. Remember that movie night at the Roxbury?

[Danny Austin]

No. That one? No.

[Jordan]

With Will. Anyway, I watched that. Like, I remember one day I watched that eight times in a row, and I think I was 10 years old.

[Danny Austin]

Well, didn't you also fall asleep to Baywatch?

[Jordan]

That's true. I did. I loved Baywatch when I was. Yes. When I was, like, four years old, I fell asleep to Baywatch every day. I would, like, stay up till 10 because I wanted to watch Baywatch, which.

[Danny Austin]

Is so funny, because if y' all know Jord Jordan's parents or, like, you. You or your brother, like, you're not crazy kids. Y' all are all very, like, traditional.

[Jordan]

And I had. I had another friend who. His dad. He was, like, 16 years old, and his dad wouldn't let him watch Flubber. And that guy went buck wild in college. That's why I didn't even drink until I was 21.

[Danny Austin]

He's like, F, you dad is 21 years old.

[Jordan]

I think the. I think the moral of the story is, like, you really can't control how your kids are going to end up.

[Danny Austin]

Wow, that's deep. Especially for today's episode.

[Jordan]

Yeah.

[Danny Austin]

So what.

[Sponsor Voice / Advertiser]

What is.

[Danny Austin]

Speaking of trauma.

[Jordan]

So what is, you know, you came in hot. We had a script, and Danny said. Ripped the script in half and said, I'm going to tell people where I've been.

[Danny Austin]

Yeah. So I decided I always kind of Assumed I would address it. Right. Somewhat immediately when I came back online. Like a month or so back online. I'm probably not going to address everything. I'll probably leave out 20%.

[Jordan]

I bet you won't.

[Danny Austin]

No, I probably will. Just because we'll save some of it for the book that I might write one day in 10 years. But no, I always figured I would address it. You know, it has been funny, like, coming back, you know, I feel like people are kind of over it, though.

[Jordan]

Yeah.

[Danny Austin]

They're kind of like, oh, she wasn't at the tart trip. Like, cool. She was just taking a break. So I don't even actually feel like I need to address it because, yeah, I was just taking a break. And you know, you don't owe anyone anything. Like, you can take a break and that's okay and you don't have to explain yourself or. But. But I just kind of want to, I guess.

[Jordan]

Yeah.

[Danny Austin]

You know.

[Jordan]

So buckle up. Where do you want to begin?

[Danny Austin]

So, okay, I guess I'll begin with 2024. 2024 was actually a pretty good year in general. Like, when you look at everything that we accomplished, I actually wrote down a bunch of the things that we did in 2024 just because, you know, two things can be true.

[Jordan]

Yeah, no, read them all. I actually, I think it's a great exercise in gratitude.

[Danny Austin]

Yeah, exactly. So we launched our big ass luxury scent that I always wanted to do called She's a Lady with my Grandma Goey. We launched our Electric Picks collab. Divi launched in 2024. Dry shampoo, hydrating shampoo and conditioner. Whipped hair mask, Air dry cream, Leave in conditioner. Leave in cond. That's the whipped mask. Oh, the leave in the spray. The leave in spray. I played in the MLB Celebrity All Star game. We had crazy guests on like Jess from Love is Blind, Matt and Rachel, RIP Mom Talk. The president of Toyota, Jefferson, Bethy, Tay and K. Matt Nabi. We had a lot of cool guests. Sorry if I'm leaving some other people out.

[Jordan]

You spoke at that Chase event featured.

[Danny Austin]

In wwd, which was huge for us. We signed with Dear Media. We rebranded our podcast. Spoke at the Forbes 30 under 30 summit. Made the Forbes top creator list three times in a row. Spoke at the Forbes Creator event. Gave away like, basically, you know, $65,000 worth of luxury goods. Did so many massive giveaways.

[Jordan]

Double Disney Divi's business.

[Danny Austin]

Double Divi's business. Spoke at the J.P. morgan summit.

[Jordan]

Longhorns ranked 5 in the country.

[Danny Austin]

Longhorns ranked 5 in the Country. You went and spoke on my behalf at the University of Texas, where I was supposed to speak. I mean, and all while I was pregnant. So I did all those things. Pregnant pretty much.

[Jordan]

And you know what? Still wasn't enough.

[Danny Austin]

It. It wasn't that it wasn't enough. I just feel like in 2023, the end of 2023, 2024, everything just changed with my kids getting older. And I also, you know, I have a team of. I had a team of, like, seven people. And so at the same time doing all of that, I also am like, y', all, I'm so freaking hard on myself. Like, the expectations I have on myself are brutal enough. But then also, I've always putting pressure on myself to keep my team happy and make sure, like, for some reason I have this, like, lie in my head or this idea in my head, like, I don't want my team to work for a loser.

[Jordan]

Like, that's crazy.

[Danny Austin]

And so I feel like I have to push myself so that my team is. Is growing with me, and I want them. I'm like, I can't just be, like, a normal mommy blogger. Like, I have to be excelling because, like, these people's jobs and careers are in my hands, and. And I feel responsible for them, too. So in every aspect of my career, whether it's ltk, podcast, guests, content, crazy giveaways, like, I feel like I have to. I can't be normal in all of them. I have to be excelling at. At all of them. And. And people always ask, like, all the time, like, how do you do it all? I mean, I don't think that I was even, like, realizing what we were doing, and I wasn't ever, like, appreciative or content with whatever we were accomplishing because there was always something more. And I think it really started to affect my mental health as my kids got older. I think when I didn't have kids or my kids were younger, and it was really only affecting me or our marriage. Like, you were a big boy enough to, like, see what was going on and take care of yourself, but when it starts affecting, like, your kids, that's whenever my self esteem started to plummet because I was like, man, like, I'm really not really feeling content in my work. But then I also feel like I'm not the mom that I want to be. So the start of 2024, I think I really had this vision of the mom that I. I was, like, set out. Like, I want to become this person, and, like, I Could not do it. Like, I could not accomplish it. I could not, like, change. I was so stuck in my ways and stuck in, like, these unhealthy, toxic patterns of just, like, more and more and more. And if, like, something is not hitting the right way, like, we'll just do more, like, for another dopamine hit for another whatever. And, like, it just. And it never was. It never hit. It never hit anymore. And so that's really sad because then you're doing all these amazing things. You're speaking at Forbes. I found out I made the Forbes top creator list. And, like, when I tell you guys, like, my soul was dead inside, like, I had. I did not. Like, usually in the past, I'd call my mom and dad, be like, I made the list. Oh, my gosh. Like, freaking out or excited. I felt literally nothing. Like, which. So there were all these amazing things happening, and I felt just bland. And so I knew that was a problem. But I was always meeting with my mentor, like, once a week. And I'm like, listen, I'm gonna have to blow my life up one day. I was like, listen, I'm too extreme of a person to, like, deconstruct this and pull one layer apart and be like, let's get rid of this and let's do it. I can't do it. Yeah.

[Jordan]

Okay. I have a question.

[Danny Austin]

Yeah.

[Jordan]

Can we just address. It's so funny because, like, in this whole story arc, the reason I laugh so hard of you being like, I'm going to have to blow my life up is because what I want the audience to picture is, like, for probably the past, like, two years, I've been like, danny, like, let's just, like, dial this down or, like, let's just do this. Like, one small change 2 degrees to the left. And this girl is stubborn as all be out. And, like, would not. You were stuck.

[Danny Austin]

We call.

[Jordan]

We called it internally, the hamster wheel.

[Danny Austin]

Yeah.

[Jordan]

You know, because she was just this little hamster, like. And she's like, I'm so tired. And it's like, okay, we'll get off the wheel. And you're like, I can't. The wheel's so good.

[Danny Austin]

I was, like, literally stuck on the wheel, like, just running as hard as I could and. But, yeah, I was, like, truly dead inside. And I wouldn't call it depression. I wouldn't call it. I didn't. Wasn't struggling with anxiety or anything. There were spouts of, like, depression, probably from the hormones, like, when I My first trimester. But I wouldn't Call it any of that. It was just, like, general discontent, probably.

[Jordan]

Yeah.

[Danny Austin]

Like.

[Jordan]

And what was like, I mean, you know, you're. You're. Even if your mind wasn't willing to acknowledge it, I feel like. Like you had a lot of health issues in, like, 2024 too.

[Danny Austin]

Yes. So I had. This is like, a huge factor that I'm actually still dealing with. But I told you guys, I had the influenza A, influenza B or Covid every month for 10 months out of the 12, 12. Like, literally, I was always sick, and then I would get over one, and then I'd be healthy for two weeks, and then I'd be sick again, like, just like chronically ill. And so I'm go. I'm working with, like, an immune specialist right now trying to get to the root of it, because it's still happening. When I got. When I had my baby, I had bronchitis. I didn't leave the house, obviously. You know, I had a newborn and it just turned into influenza A. Then my kids got it, and then I got mastitis. So literally my first three weeks of being postpartum, I have had chills, aches and fever like, almost every single day. And breastfeeding on top of that, like, it's just. And this is just kind of like the cycle of my life. Like, I was always sick like this, but then I just wouldn't stop and I would just do more and more. I'd take some Advil, do more, more, more, like. And I mean, I was literally in the hospital, like, in the emergency room from this gerd. I was, like, throwing up when I was pregnant because I had this horrible acid reflux. And I'm supposed to be making a QVC. I'm supposed to be on QVC at 1pm and it's 9am I'm like, give me the drugs. I gotta make this flight. They're like, danny, you're not going anywhere. I just couldn't stop. And so I just needed this. I needed to honestly, like, blow up my life. And, like, I kind of did. Like, I literally. I mean, I told my friends and my family and we'll save a lot of the blow up. Or like, honestly, I would call it like a rock bottom. We'll save a lot of that story. We don't have to talk about everything right now. But I eventually told my. My friends, like, I have like, seven best girlfriends. And then I told my family and I was like, y' all will not be hearing from me. I will be going, bye. Bye. I will not have my Phone. I will be just off the grid. And. Yeah, and that's what I did. And I was able to focus a lot on, like, this inner healing that I needed to know. I know that's such, like, a, you know, I don't know, like, hippie. Hippie word. But, like, I really needed to do. I needed to know, like, what. Why am I, like, this? Like, why am I so obsessed with accomplishments? Like, why do I, deep down, feel so empty and, like, I'm never good enough? And, like, it all comes from, like, your childhood, like, it always does. And, like, I. I've told you, but, like, I was, like, the sixth grader that, like, was running for class president. And, like. Like, if I didn't get class president, like, I would. It would make me sick to my stomach. Like, I would just be obsessed because I didn't feel like Danny alone was ever good enough. Danny needed to be class president. She needed to be captain of the volleyball team. She needed to be. Because otherwise, I wasn't valuable. Like, I didn't have anything special for people to actually like about me. I wasn't. I didn't think I was, like, pretty. I didn't think I was funny. I didn't think I was smart. I didn't think I was, like, anything. So I always thought, okay, I have to, like, manufacture this. This version of me that people will fall in love with. And for my childhood, I think it really worked because I got, like, a lot of attention and I felt important. I mean, like, y', all, I was literally class president or, like, some VP or so like, every single year from sixth grade till I was a senior, like, not even joking. And I was always the captain of whatever sport I did. I. I played every single sport. And I hated it. That's the funniest thing. I hated it. I had so much anxiety before these basketball games. Like, I weighed, like, nine, 80 pounds. And these girls are, like, demolishing me. And I. But I couldn't let go because I'm like, well, I'm an athlete, and I have to play all the sports, and I have to be good at all of them. And. And so it just like. And then, you know, you take someone like that that's just not really. Ever really content with just being Danny. And then you put them on Instagram and you put them on. It's like the perfect drug for me. Like, it's like I get the dopamine hits that I always wanted every single day, every single moment of my life, until I don't. And then what Do I do, like. And then that's when, like, the depression kicks in. That's whenever, like, unhealthy patterns and toxic, like, relationships online. Not relationship online. Sorry, that sounded like I was, like, talking to boys online. No, it's not like that. Toxic friendships, like, start to happen. And. And there's this, like, there's this psychiatrist. His name is Gabor. Gabor, mate. And he talks about your authentic self. Self versus, like, attachment. And your authentic self is, like, when you, like, actually love yourself and you're actually, like, willing to hurt other people or, like, let other people down because you are so confident in who you are, which is, like, kind of, like what we should strive for. But then there's this attachment side of yourself that, like, you will completely deny your true self just so you can have attention and love from. From other people. Like, if. If there is a version of you that people like better, that gives you more attention, gives you more laughs, gives you more smiles, like, you're, like, screwed. Screw the real Danny. Like, I'm this Danny today. And, like, that is so me. Like, I did everything for the attachment because I wanted to feel important and I wanted to feel valuable. And, you know, it's just so funny because it all really works until you have kids. I mean, when I say it works, it's unfulfilling and it's sad, and, like, you have to struggle a lot. But, like, when you have kids, it was really hard for me because, like, I don't think that I. I realized until 2024, like, I have. I always felt this huge responsibility with, I'm gonna say, 3 million people, because we're about to hit a million on TikTok with these 3 million people that follow along with our life. Like, I've always felt this, like. Like, I. I genuinely feel this, like, heart for those people. I really do. And I feel like God gave me that. That heart for those people. But. But I've always known, like, I. There. There's, like. I don't know, like, I wasn't taking care of myself in order to take care of those people. And then I felt like I prioritized the 3 million people over the 3 people now I have in my home, which are my kids. And I feel like my true calling now is to Minister to my three little babies in, like, prioritizing that over my 3 million. And, like, that will come. But, like, my true calling is as a mother. And, like, I've never been able to accept that. I've always been, like, I'm a. I'm a girl, but I don't call myself a girl boss. But like in my head I'm like, I'm a career woman. Like, I'll never be a stay at home mom. Like, I'll always be working and all this. And in 2024, like, I feel like God started to change my heart in that way. Like, he was like, no, like you, like I want you to be a mom. Like, I want you to like take care of your babies and prioritize your family. And like, I just went down like kicking and screaming and fighting and. But then I feel like my heart truly changed and like, I didn't know, I didn't know how to change myself. So when it came down to the social media break, it was a very, you know me, I don't really think about things. I just kind of do it. Sometimes if I think about it too much, it stresses me out. So if there's a task at hand, I'm like, okay, let's do it right now. That's kind of how I felt about posting about my social media break. Like, I kind of was just like, I'm going to jump into it, dive head first, see what happens. I didn't really have a plan of like, what I was when I was going to come back, how much I was going to share what was going on. Like, I really didn't have any of that. But I knew I needed to change my behaviors in my life and I knew I needed to change my environment. And when I say environment, I didn't mean like, I don't think you always have to change. Like literally moving to a new city or you know, like change, move into a new house, whatever it is. I, When I thought of environment, I thought of the people I was around, what I was consuming, what I was doing on a daily basis, what I valued. Like, I just felt like I needed to like throw it all away and like start from scratch. Um, and then when I thought of changing my behaviors, like, I was like, I know that in order to change, like actually change, like to be a changed woman, I know it's going to take time. Like, I knew it wasn't going to be overnight. And that kills me because everything I ever want to do, I want to fix it instantly. I want there to be an instant fix. And that's probably like a little bit from my childhood. Like, I mean, I love. My parents were amazing because they always like introduced me to my faith, took us to church, but there was a lot of like, pray it away type of behavior. In my like childhood, which, so I don't know if I'd ever seen like real change, like someone actually change and like what it takes to change as a person. Like how much work goes into it. And it was shocking when I started my break because I started to actually sit with myself and like see, like, okay, what do I value or what do I like or what is my calling or what? And it was like sad. Like it was sad how, how little I had matured over the past like five to ten years. Probably because of how much my work got in the way. Like I felt like I was 20 years old. Like I was like, what do I, what do I even value in life, in my life? What do I like about myself? Am I even funny? Am I nice? Am I a good person? Like, and you have to sit with all these things because you don't have work or this dopamine rush to like get you going anymore. So you just sit with it and like stare at yourself. And so I mean half of the break was just, that was just like sitting within the muck and being like, well this is what I don't like, this is what I don't want to be. And but yeah, I don't think I would have ever been able to do that if I wouldn't have just like stopped everything.

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[Podcast Host / Advertiser]

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[Danny Austin]

So that's where the, the length of the break came in. Like, where. Then I decided, okay, if I'm going to change, it's going to take time and I'm going to have to do it for 30 days at least because, you know, it takes 30 days to build a habit. And so, and so that really like the first thing that I knew I needed to fix was my relationship with God. Like, I knew that that had, I think that I had such a surface level relationship with, with God because I was so ashamed. Like, I think whenever you're. And it's not even ashamed, like, I just knew. It's almost like where you, you know, the areas that you need to improve. And so you're just like, okay, God. Like, I know, like, we'll talk about it later. So I, like, because I know I'm not doing well in this area, then I can't come to you for anything else, you know. And so, so I just decided I was like, I have gone to insane lengths in my life to pursue my career. Like, I have tried to get on an airplane when I'm in the emergency room to go to qvc. Like, I have flown private to make this Forbes event spent, you know, tens of thousands of dollars to get on this private plane so I can go speak at this Forbes event and then be home to see. Like, I've gone to extreme lengths in my career. Why am I not going to extreme lengths in my faith? And like, what, what are those? Like, how am I going to do that now? Like, how am I going to be able to take all that energy that I had in my career and focus it now in, in my faith as a mom at home? And, and so that's what I was honestly trying to figure out. And so I was reading Revelation at the time. It was really heavy, really heavy. But like, I, I, I just, like, literally I, I listened to praise and put on praise and worship music 24 7. And I had it playing in our house. I had it playing on my phone. I couldn't even take a shower without it playing. And I just like, soaked myself like, in the Holy Spirit, like, all the time. Like, it was just around all the time. And even the times, like, I didn't like, know if it was happening or not or what my intention was, like, I was just always reading scripture or praying and talking to God 24 7. And I talked to him just like this. I'm like, hey, God. Like, I'm struggling. Like, I feel like a horrible mom. And I feel like this. And my prayers weren't pretty. They weren't like these eloquent things. I wasn't always on my, on my knees next to my bed. There were times I was on my knees next to bed, but, but it was just like, very raw and real. And I, I think for the first time time I established this like, true lifeline that I feel like I never had in my faith where I actually feel like without prayer and without reading the Word and without talking to God into, like, praise and without praise and worship, like, I don't feel like I'm going to make it. Like, I don't feel like I can survive and be the person and be the mom I want to be without my faith now. And so, I don't know, it was just really, really cool how I felt like because of that break, God was able to come in and like, I don't know, fill me with the Holy Spirit, fill my home, fill my children, fill my marriage in ways that like, I probably had always kind of like kung fu out of my life for so long. And so, yeah, I mean, overall, I just had to break it all down, just blow it up my life to become the person I Wanted. I wanted to be. And I decided I'm gonna take a break from all the opinions of others. Like, I mean, y', all. I have people that hate my guts. Like, even my neighbors. I have neighbors that literally take videos of my house, and I'm like, dude, we can see your car in the driveway. Sorry. But, like, I, like, people hate me. And, like. And that is, like. To take a break from that for a second and to, like, like, literally shut it out and to not even know it's going on was, like, the healthiest thing I've ever done in my life. Because I don't read my hate and I don't read, like, anything, but, like, you know, it comes up in conversation, or someone will tell me in. In passing, or a friend will mention this or that, and. And it. It weighs on you, like, in ways that you don't. I didn't even really realize. And so I just felt like I was very fragile to it, Even though I thought. I thought, oh, I've been doing this for 13 years. Like, I'm not. I don't care what people think. But I do because I'm human and it hurts sometimes. So, yeah, I also took a break from people, like, unintentionally asking me for favors. I feel like I get a lot of. Even just in. In that. And I love to help people. I really do. But, like, I think I put myself in positions a lot of times where I agree to. Agree to too much because I want to help so many people, whether it's a photographer or a small business or whatever it is. And. And I had to take a break from that because I'm like, dude, I can't even help you. I gotta help myself first, you know? And not only that, but when I help someone, I want to feel, like, true, like, joy and contentment. And I'm doing it from, like, an authentic place, not because I'm worried about hurting their feelings, because that's so much of. Of, like, sometimes the kindness that people portray in their brand, it's like you're doing it because you're more worried about what people think instead of is this really coming from a genuine, you, like, giving place? And so. So, yeah, there were just, like, a lot of things that I needed a break from and I needed to be okay with just, like, being mom, being a wife, being a mom, focusing on our marriage and just like, really kind of like growing into the person that I really wanted to be. I guess I just talked for so long. I mean, that was probably 30 minutes.

[Jordan]

Damn. Didn't plan that this morning. Did you have an outline? Is that all from.

[Danny Austin]

I didn't look at it, but I do have one. I can follow it now.

[Jordan]

Why did you wake up this morning and decide you were going to share all that?

[Danny Austin]

Well, I mean, I don't know. I don't know.

[Jordan]

How do you feel sharing it?

[Danny Austin]

How do I feel sharing that? Let me tell. Let me think about my feelings. No, I mean, I don't know if I feel relief. Maybe I feel like maybe it will relate to someone a little scary. Don't know if it made sense.

[Jordan]

No, it made a lot of sense. Do you think that it. We learned this in marriage counseling. I'm going to get curious, which means I'm going to ask you a lot of questions and really try and understand how you're feeling. I guess looking back on the past, you know, I've asked you this a couple times, but I think probably a lot of people feel stuck, you know, in similar bad habits or hamster wheels. Like, you know, my. I feel like in. In our marriage, I was always feeling like I could control the situation. I'd be like, oh, let's just turn 2 degrees to the left or 2 degrees to the right, you know? And I kind of always saw the catastrophe come in. I was like, this train's rolling off the tracks. And I tried my best to stop it. Do you think it could have stopped and gotten healthier in any other way?

[Danny Austin]

For me personally, no.

[Jordan]

Is that just a personality?

[Danny Austin]

No, I think it's. I think it's undealt with trauma. Like, honestly, I think it was these open wounds that I never actually addressed from, like, so long ago that until I was able to heal those and focus on those and understand why I was even. Why. Why do I feel like I constantly have to be going, like, why do I feel like I constantly have to be achieving? And why can't I just sit with Danny being Danny? Why is, like, that never good enough and, like, until I address those things? No, I don't think so. And I don't think I would have known to dress those things until I.

[Jordan]

Just blown it up. Does it make you look back on, you know, the years that you've been sprinting in any different type of way? Like, do you look back on them and are still grateful because that was part of your story, or do look back and say, hey, wow, like, that was so unhealthy?

[Danny Austin]

No, I don't even look back at 2024 and wish I did anything differently because I have such clarity now. And I am very aware that the times that I've made the biggest mistakes in my life is, like, where I've evolved and learned the most. And, like, I know that I have to go through hard times to be stronger, so. But no, I. I don't Even look at 2023, 2022, 21. Like, I look at everything so positively. Like, I really do. And probably more positive than you. Like, you're probably like, oh, my gosh, 2024 was such a hard year. She was sick all the time. And I don't look at it like that. Like, it was hard and it was challenging, but. And I definitely was discontent, but I'm just, like, so thankful for all of that. Like, I'm so thankful for a rock bottom. Like, it's gotten me to a place where I'm so desperate for this relationship with. With God. And I'm so desperate to. To not continue, like, the same old patterns. Like, I'm. I'm literally desperate. Like, and I don't think that people really change without this gift of desperation. Like, I don't think that they actually cleave to, like, what they need to cleave to until they've lost it all. And I wouldn't. That sounds, like, a little extreme because I didn't lose at all. But. But, like, you know, we almost did. I mean, people were like. I'm like, I took a break on Black Friday and Christmas, and they were like, okay, we know she's being serious now, and. And that's just like, a silly thing. But. But, like, you know. Yeah. I mean, one day maybe I'll share more about my rock bottom, but, like, it was bad. It was bad.

[Jordan]

And it was bad for us, too.

[Danny Austin]

Yeah, it was bad for our marriage.

[Jordan]

It was. You know, I don't want to say that we almost lost it all in terms of our marriage, but, I mean, it was. It was very bad.

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[Podcast Host / Advertiser]

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[Jordan]

I mean, I saw the train going off the track and I, I just wanted to stop. And it's funny because I think that you think that now I look back on 2024 as negative and I don't like it took me a second but for like this moment of clarity now I have no regrets about 2023 or 2024 or any of the other years of health prior because now it's Just part of our story.

[Danny Austin]

Yeah.

[Jordan]

It's not something I have to look at as, like, regret or loss. It's like, oh, that led us to this, like, moment of reprieve and redemption.

[Danny Austin]

Yeah.

[Jordan]

Where it's like, I mean, I think that this year in our marriage is probably going to be healthier than ever.

[Danny Austin]

Yeah. And which is wild, you know, and it was, it was hard. Like, we, even as a married couple, we had to work through. And just so you go, there was no, like, infidelity or anything like that. Like, that's not what we're talking about. But in our marriage, like, we had to work through a lot because all of a sudden I. I'm not consumed with work 24 7. I can't throw myself into. When I'm not feeling good enough, I can't throw myself into a video to post to see if it does well, to feel better about myself. And so I'm. I'm sitting with a lot of emotions and people didn't like that. They didn't like that about me. And it was hard and I didn't know what to do with the emotions. I had a lot of them and. And I had a lot of, like, built up resentment and anger that I finally had to sit with and be like, I'm angry at this person or this and I have to deal with my emotions and I can't just shove it under the rug anymore. And most importantly, not even just for me in our marriage, but for my kids. Like, my kids need to know that it's okay to have feelings and it's okay to. But like, they need to know how to deal with them and they need to know, like, hey, Mommy is not always right. Mommy has to apologize sometimes too. And mommy's working on herself. And I was just so sick of, like, talking about the mom I wanted to be or the faith I wanted to have. And I just wanted to start living it. Like, I want my daughter to see mommy in the Bible in, in the Word every morning. I don't want to be like, we read the Bible. I want her to just be like, oh, I observe that my mom does that. And I don't want to be like, when we are sick, we pray. Like, I just want. When she comes over and stubs her toe, I want we immediately just start praying to Jesus. Like, we don't talk about it, we just do it. Like, our faith is a lifestyle and we live it out. We don't talk about it anymore. And I. That was something I was really frustrated with my Childhood was just always talking about my faith and like, what does it actually look like to live. Live it out. And, and that's what I'm challenging myself with the most right now. And like, why, why do I have to put my kids into the daycare when I go to church? Why can't they come and praise and worship with me for 30 minutes first? Like, why am I following all these rules? Like, I want them to see what it looks like to praise and worship and like to, to, to praise God like they've never seen that before. And, and why is, you know, this is such a stupid example. But like, Stella knows all the words to Taylor Swift, but she doesn't know the words to my favorite praise of worship songs. Like, those are all little things, but they're just, they're just little examples that you can see that maybe they're. We're not creating the fruit in our home that we. That I want. And sorry, when I said we, but me, you know, because I, I'm trying to work on myself and not other people. That's another thing that I learned is like, I got to focus on keeping my street, my side of the street clean. And you can't control anybody else around you. Just focus on you and everything else will happen around you. But, so, so yeah, I think I just decided to fight for my children. Like, my children are everything and I've decided to fight for them.

[Jordan]

What are some other, like, you know, the biggest decisions you've made around your life and your business that have been most helpful in like, protecting this piece?

[Danny Austin]

You know, I, I do feel like I've shared a lot of them, but with my, with my business in particular, the way that I came back online, I know it kind of pissed a lot of people off.

[Jordan]

Why is that again?

[Danny Austin]

Because we. I wasn't doing stories as much. And I don't know, here's the thing about me. Like, I hate a plan. I hate plans. And I hate saying I'm gonna do, like, when I come back online, I'm gonna do this, this and this, or in two months, then I'll start doing this. And like, I hate that. Like, I so like to go with the flow. I like to see where the wind blows me. And I'm like, if I feel like posting something in that day, like, I want to be able to do it as long as. What I've learned is there are priorities. Like there are. And I've always said there are non negotiables and. But I don't know if I realize There I have so many non negotiables. Like, I have a lot of things that I need on a daily basis to be healthy. Like, a lot. It's hours of, like, I need to be able to wake up with my kids, pack their lunch, do my quiet time. I need to be able to work out, I need to be able to pick up my kids from school, whatever it is. Like, it's not just like one thing, it's like hours and all of those things. I do therapy now. I do marriage counseling. I do all these things that are requirements just for me to be the basic level functioning Danny that I need to be like, just basic. And those things cannot be tampered with. And in the past, those things were the first to go and I still did them, but they were like, gotta do this. Video therapy's not gonna make sense this week. Okay? Gotta do this. Okay. I'm not gonna take my kids to school. Okay. Gotta do this. Okay, Then Stella can do gymnastics on her own, whatever it was. And they were just so wishy washy. And now I, I'm learning the like, importance of them and like of the consistency of them. And so what I've learned is those are the boulders in my week and they can't move. But then work can flow and can make sense around those things. And unfortunately now with these massive boulders, I can't do as much. Like, and maybe it's not unfortunately, it's probably a good thing because what I've learned is too much of that, too much of anything without, you know, balance, you start to resent it. And like, you start to resent these beautiful blessings in your life, like these giveaways or this, you know, these videos that I get to film that should be so fun and, and funny and uplifting. And you start to hate them. And not because you like actually hate them, you're just not fulfilled in other ways. I, you know, I always refer to my wellness wheel now. And like, there's so many parts of your wellness. It's spiritual, it's physical, it's intellectual. Like, I need to be reading. Like, I, instead of last night, instead of being on my, you know, whatever I was doing, now I puzzle every night, which is like just a very calming, peaceful activity. Or I, I read and like, and I'm not just reading to read. Like, I'm reading to fill myself up, you know, and, and so all these different, like, aspects of my wellness field, like, I literally have one next to my bed and I look at it, I'm like, did I Feel all the wellness, you know, did I. What's. What was lacking today? Did I, you know, take care of myself intellectually? Did I talk to my friends? Was I social? Does I maintaining my relationships? Was I this? When you're working 24 7, all of that goes out the window. It's not prioritized. And so, yeah, you have to be. The hardest thing for me was being okay with not being like a hundred percent on my A game when it came to my career. Like, that was so. I don't know why that was so painful for me, like, but I think it's because I truly felt like that's what made me important. Like, that's what made me unique and loved and special. And it was like, it's sad, you.

[Jordan]

Know, don't you feel like the more. Because I think that we've both been learning to, like, let go of that, you know, like, career driven identity. Don't you feel like the more that you've let go, like, the more that it's not like Danny's doing all these wins, it's kind of like God's been able to kind of step in and almost like, you know, bless you professionally still too. Like, I thought the most ironic thing was when you were on a break, you know, you always assumed, oh my gosh, everyone's gonna hate me. Like, I'm gone, I'm. I'm irrelevant or whatever. And, you know, while you were gone, divi's serum won. WWD's, like 2025 products of the year. Oprah's editors, like, chose it as the best overall product. You got nominated for EY's Entrepreneur of the Year, which is like a huge deal. And to me, as just kind of like watching from the sideline, for me, the lesson felt like, man, both of us. But like, you had always felt like, I have to. And if I let up and if I don't do this, like, I'm not earning my keep, like. And it really kind of almost allowed for you to take a step back and for God to be like, hey, I got you. Yeah, like, this is. This all isn't you. You've thought it was, and I let you think it was for a long time, but, like, I've got you.

[Danny Austin]

Yeah.

[Jordan]

Have you felt that at all since you've stepped back?

[Danny Austin]

Yeah, I mean, I'm very. God has been so good, so good to me even in the prior years. Like, he just, it's like, it's almost like humorous, like how he, like, it was so hard going through what we've been through the past couple months, but, like, it never was too much. It was like. And then the times whenever I'd be, like, struggling the most, like, he always throws you a little bone like that. Like, and. But honestly, like. And I. I'm just so, Like, I'm so grateful, and I'm so excited about all of those things, and, like, and I feel like now I can see that they're God's blessings, like, instead of just being like, oh, we did it, or whatever. But, yeah, I, I. It's, like, so funny because I'm like, God, I wasn't even worried about that. Like, I wasn't even worried about Debbie right now. Like, you know, or.

[Jordan]

I know. And I. I guess I do have this question, too. Like, why even come back to social media at all? Like, you were in such a healthy place, and there was kind of this moment where you were, like, you know, and I never thought I would hear you say this. You're like, nah, I'm okay without it.

[Danny Austin]

Yeah.

[Jordan]

And you really were. You were so content, and I was content that you were content. Right. And you were an amazing mom, and I just saw this, like, new health in our home, and I feel like you had that from a very healthy place. You were kind of like, well, you know what? Like, I. I do realize and recognize with my therapist, like, I do want to work. And so, like, I guess my question is, like, why. Why come back at all?

[Danny Austin]

Yeah, I mean, I. I did. I did miss it, and I think that there were times I was like, I miss it, but I could. If I really needed to, I could find other. Like, if. If I couldn't figure out a healthy balance with it, I could find other ways to fill my cup. And. And I honestly still feel that way about social media. Like, if I. If I can't figure it out and do it in a way that makes sense for me and it. And I start to lose myself again, and I'm not able to be the mom I want to be or the wife I want to be, then I. I think I could find other ways to serve people and to, like, make people laugh and to be creative. But. But I love. I love this way of doing it. Like, this is, like, what I've. This is my dream job. And I'm. I'm like, I've. I love it, and I've loved it since I started. I got lost in it, I think, because I loved it so much, too much. I think I idolized it, and it became everything for me, but I still want to be a part of it in, like, a healthy way. And I really, like, I'm just, I feel very grateful for the people in my audience that have, like, stuck around and who are still, like, I, I notice that they're actual people. You know, they don't just feel like numbers to me. And it feels very, it feels very serious, this role I have, but at the same time, it doesn't because I'm not a serious person. But, like, it feels like I don't understand why God gave me this platform, but I know it was God given because, like, I know just, like, there's no way, like, why me? Like, it has to be from, from God. And so I know that there's ways that I can use it in really positive ways to impact people. And, like, I don't want to waste that, but I just need to figure out a way to do it right.

[Jordan]

I think there's a large part of your or a subset of your audience that is like, other creators, okay? And what you and I both know about this space is like, everyone's kind of looking at one another and being like, oh, well, she's killing it. And look at the pace that she's running. And so I need to run at that pace, too. And what's been really interesting for me is, like, when I put my consumer of social media hat on is I think audiences are now kind of waking up and realizing that the pace that most of these creators are running is, like, inhumane, right? And I think they're like, hey, it's not admirable anymore. It's kind of, like, icky. It's like, ugh. Like, this is so much like you're, you're in the hospital. Like, you're, you're running yourself ragged, and, like, you think it's for us, but, like, you can't get off. And so my question is, like, in all of these lessons that you learned, what would you tell the other creators that follow you that are, like, looking to what Danny Austin's doing to kind of try and figure out how to, like, model their career off of it, too?

[Danny Austin]

It's so funny because I get stuck in the same thought pattern. I'm like, man, these girls are doing so much like, they're killing it, but, like, they're probably struggling, too.

[Jordan]

They're struggling. I, I, that's why I brought up the question is because I think the original reason we created this podcast was kind of like, de influence what goes on behind the scenes. And I think what's really cool about Your story is that I think that there's a lot of people and this isn't like egotistical or you know, propping you up or anything. I think there's a lot of people who looked at Danny's, Danny Austin's career and were like, I want. Right. And what you're being vulnerable about saying is like, hey, listen, like, I got it. And here were the challenges and the shadow sides of it. Right. And so it's a cool opportunity almost for you to speak to them. All these people who are feeling like they aren't enough.

[Danny Austin]

Yeah.

[Jordan]

And are feeling like they need to keep up with XYZ other creator or this demographic. Like, what would you say to them now?

[Danny Austin]

Yeah, I mean, it is obvious. We live in, we live in like a pretty sick culture where we are all, not all, but like majority of us are prioritizing this like false reality that's. It's not really real. It's not, it's not real. And I've been guilty of the same thing. And it's, it's like, it's kind of like making us all mentally ill, honestly. And like the anxiety and the self esteem issues we have.

[Jordan]

Are you talking about two creators?

[Danny Austin]

Yeah, maybe two creators. I'm sure people that aren't creators probably feel this in a, in a different sense in their world somehow. I mean, I think people that aren't creators that are just still posting like pictures on Facebook or their lives, like when I was on MySpace, I was doing the same thing. So I think we kind of all, not all of us, but a lot of people probably feel similar. But like, I think just acknowledging that first and knowing like actually what everybody else is doing is unhealthy and like we are kind of all sick to get together, like acknowledging that and then acknowledging like it's okay to do things differently. And then, you know, for me, like, literally what I did is I wrote down, I was like, what is like the type of mom or the type of person like I want to be? And I kind of like assessed where I was at and where I wanted to be and like this dream version of myself that was so actually attainable. Like, it actually was. If I could just let go of, of this pride that I had about this is what makes Danny important and this is what me. Like, it was all actually what I wanted was so much less than what I was, what I was like trying to achieve. Like, and, and so I just, I literally wrote it all down and then I was like, okay, this is who I am. This is who I want to be. How am I going to get there? And that was the hard part, because what I realized was the way I was going to get there did not work with where I was at.

[Jordan]

Yeah.

[Danny Austin]

And there was honestly no way, like, maybe for you, who could destruct things so perfectly, and you could take one brick. Brick down and the next brick down and then chisel away here and chisels away.

[Jordan]

I feel like you're being condescending.

[Danny Austin]

I was like, no. I was like, I'm gonna blow this up. Like, and I'm gonna be left with, like, the fire and the flames. And I'm like, this is exactly what I wanted. I wanted this to happen. No, not really, but. Yeah, but, like, I kind of did. And then. So, like, I'm not telling every creator to blow their life up, but. But I think you would be shocked at how much you're gonna learn about yourself or the feelings that you're gonna feel or what you're gonna have to sit with or stare at when you just stop. I mean, I'm just gonna be honest with you guys. Like, I lost millions of dollars in November.

[Sponsor Voice / Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Danny Austin]

Whether it was on the divvy side or the Danny Austin side. And I would do it all over again. Same. I literally would do it all over again 10, 10 times over. I did not care whatsoever. Because what is all of that? First of all, I don't even really. I'm like, I don't even really want anything, but it's not even about them. It's the fact that I was achieving that made me feel something. But all of that is worth nothing if I can't be the person I want to be? How am I even going to use and steward those resources that God is blessing us with if I can't even have the clarity to know where they're supposed to be? Like, it's. It's messed up. And so. So, yeah, I would just say to other creators is like, write down who you want to be and then meet with a therapist, meet with your husband, meet with a friend, and be like, all right, how. How am I going to get there and just start taking things away that. That aren't fulfilling and aren't life. Giving in your life and taking the things away is the hardest part. That was the hardest part for me. Building it back was the fun part. Honestly, looking at my day and being like, all right, what book am I gonna read? What prayer am I gonna say? Like, all these things, I was like, oh, this is actually kind of fun. Like, I Put together my own praise and worship playlist. So I did, you know, I built my own, like, strict routine with my kids. I took my kids, like, to all these amazing, fun things. I got, like, really, like, I got really into scheduling, you know, like, scheduling. Like, like, everything. Like, Jordan likes to schedule. Because usually I'm more spontaneous, and like, now I'm like.

[Jordan]

I'm like, my protege.

[Danny Austin]

Yeah. And I'm, like, from. From 1 to 2 on Monday, I'll be with Stella. Then 2 to 3, I'll be with Stratton. And then 4 to 5, I'll be with Summit. Like, you know, and, like, usually I just be like, whatever. We'll just see when I'll see you when I see you, you know? But just that intentionality in my life has, like, made it made a huge difference, especially with my kids.

[Jordan]

Yeah. When this is kind of, like, relevant. But when you blew up your life, it kind of blew up mine too.

[Danny Austin]

And so I'm like, oh, it did.

[Jordan]

Yeah. And so sorry about that. When my life was blown up, I know that you don't think I do this, but this is the only thing that actually got me through that season and feeling any type of hope. But for a pretty consistent three weeks, like, I would wake up and I would journal, and I would try and find three things I was grateful for.

[Danny Austin]

No, you didn't.

[Jordan]

I swear. I swear to you. I swear to you. I know that you never give me.

[Danny Austin]

Credit because it's funny, because I make him do this every day now I make it 23 things. You never told me that.

[Jordan]

Yeah, so I did. When? Yeah. And so I did it for the month of pretty much December. And it was so funny. What I learned when I was doing that is it never was the big things I was grateful for because a lot of big things were still happening. Like, we hired really good executives at Divi. Like, a lot of big things were happening for about seven days straight. The things I was grateful for were being able to work out my first cup of coffee because it gives you that, like, first initial buzz.

[Danny Austin]

We love a little good buzz.

[Jordan]

And it was something about our kids. And I was like, oh, my gosh. Like, it was very. Looking back, I didn't see it this way. I saw it as, like, Danny blew up our lives. Right. I was like, why'd you do that?

[Danny Austin]

Like, I hate her. Jenny upon Must die a little bit.

[Jordan]

Yeah. But. But, you know, I was like, oh, it's so much simpler.

[Danny Austin]

Right? It's like, what? It's like, it doesn't Take much.

[Jordan]

It doesn't take much. And it was never, it's ever like my yacht. And I think what I'm going through right now is, is trying to reconcile if we had that laundry list of things that we had accomplished in 2024. And at the end of the day, like, to be happy, I need my family and my kids. I need to be able to like, do something active and I need a cup of coffee. Like, I think where I'm at is like, why strive? And, and I'm in a process where God's like reconciling my ambition to be like, okay, here's the goodness of it. I think you're ahead of me and understanding that it's not about us and it's not about our wealth or our family or our kids wealth. It's more about like stewardship. I'm just not like, my mind gets it, but my heart's not fully there. But I think that that's where it seems like you're getting. Yeah, it's more about stewardship.

[Danny Austin]

Yeah, stewardship. And at a certain point, you can't just always be healing internally and looking inside. Like, at a certain point you have to start sharing, shifting and serving. Like, that's going to actually keep the wheel turning and it keeps the, the contentment and your like, relationship close to God. Because at a certain point it's like, okay, like, you know, you've done enough with yourself and yes, you need to take that break and you need to do, and need to focus on yourself and you need to be selfish. And like, I, I skipped every single event from my, with my friends. Like, I skipped everything. I was not present with any of my friends. I wasn't even texting people back. That works for a season. That's not going to work forever. Like, and so, so yeah, that's where I'm kind of getting to getting at is like, all right now, how do I take all this goodness? How do I take this message? How do I take what God has like, taught me? And how do I use it ultimately to serve him and to glorify him? Because yeah, then it's all for not.

[Jordan]

So this is a good wrap up.

[Danny Austin]

Question, but I just want to touch on the gratitude thing.

[Jordan]

My gratitude or your gratitude?

[Danny Austin]

I want to focus on that just for a second because I, I would say if I did have a regret of 2024 and if there's anyone that's listening to this podcast, if there's anything you take away from it, this one little thing could actually change your Life, and it's doing what Jordan did. And you can even start, like, a text group with, like, some of your girlfriends or, like, why are you laughing?

[Jordan]

Oh, I was just laughing because I did it on Chat GPT and I was just remembering this time that I felt like Chat GPT became sentient and asked if it could pray for me. And I was like, okay, I don't like this.

[Danny Austin]

Maybe don't do it.

[Jordan]

No, honestly, it's super beneficial, though, because now I can go and, like, ask them. Like, it's possible that it remembers all my struggles.

[Danny Austin]

It's possible it could become the Antichrist. So, like, we'll talk about it later. But so, like, I don't know, it's probably better to do it with other beings that have souls, like a friend or a husband or maybe like, your mom or something. But reflecting every day on three things that you're grateful for. I know it sounds so, like, you know, I don't know what's the Frou Frou Frou Frou like, so Fruit Fru. But it is. I wish so badly I would have done that in 2024. Like, because there is so much to be grateful for. And you will realize, like we said, how little it actually takes, like, to. To actually be content and to, like, be. To, like, I don't know, have what you really need. And it's, it's not much. And it's like, I, I, man, I wish I would have had that perspective because there were so many, so many amazing things. Instead of focusing on what it's going to do is it's going to shift your perspective on life. Like, it's going to help you deal with resentments. Like, you're going to realize how stupid some of the things that you're sitting on now. Some of them are valid, don't get me wrong. But you're going to, like, reflect and be like, wow, like, this is so stupid that I was caught up on that. Like, when you actually sit back and see, like, what, what you're grateful for. So if there's anything you take from this, like, just try it, try it for, like, a week. It's amazing. And like Jordan said, it doesn't have to be like, these big, massive things. Like, it can be like, man, I got the best pair of socks. And, like, when I put these socks on with these shoes, like, my feet feel so good. And, like, I'm so grateful that when I walk around, my feet feel good.

[Jordan]

Like, it probably honestly will be small things like that.

[Danny Austin]

It's little things like that. That you're just like, wow, that was awesome.

[Jordan]

And so the funniest thing when you went through your hours upon hours of therapy is the most frustrating thing was that Danny had mastered gratitude so much that anytime I was sad or angry about something, she'd be like, whoa, whoa, whoa. What are three things you're grateful for? And I'm like, I'm mad at you because you blew up our lives. And she's like, well, we're not talking about that. What are three things you're grateful for? And I would, like, infuriate me to no end. It honestly kind of still does. I'm still triggered, but it's like, I now.

[Danny Austin]

I never used it like that. I usually just say three things you're grateful for, like, in the morning.

[Jordan]

No, no, no, no. But what. What I think that you did was you forced me because you had kind of like, you had seen the well. Right. And you wanted to lead me to the well. And you were like, you forced me to all these things.

[Danny Austin]

I wanted you to stop chasing things that weren't. That was my thing.

[Jordan]

Or thinking that my circumstances. Oh, if you're. You're angry at this thing, if this is corrected, you're gonna be happy. Like, you wanted me to, like, realize that it has nothing to do with that thing. That what is in your control is, like, what you're grateful for.

[Danny Austin]

Yes. Because so many times, like, we're taking calls past 5:00, or we're feeling like, like, we have to fix this issue, like, instantly, or we're focused on, oh, my gosh, this person said this about me. And instead of looking up and being like, we live five minutes from, like, one, like, a beautiful lake that we can walk and, like, accomplish so much healing around and, like, that's, like, such. We live in such a cool place. Why do we feel like we always have to be, like, looking at houses online? Like, we should be so thankful? Like, we're so. This is amazing. And, like, we have, like, our. Our kids are healthy. Like, our kids are healthy. Like, that's so. That's huge. That's massive. And, like, it should bring us to our knees in gratitude and thankfulness every day. Not, like, what's next? Or, why is Stella acting this way? Or why is. Why doesn't she want to play soccer? Like, I don't know those.

[Jordan]

I never thought I would say this. Like, you would ask me. November, December, last year, I was like, it's over. Life is torpedoed, babe. I feel like we are so back. Are we Back. I feel like we are so back right now. Like, our marriage, like, everything might be so back.

[Danny Austin]

It's, like, not even funny.

[Jordan]

I do want to end on this question. So you kind of started your story by saying that you. Ever since sixth grade or whatever, you know, is always about, like, Danny Austin is not valuable without these things. Right. What do you think that God is saying about you now? Or what do you hear God saying about you now?

[Danny Austin]

So deep. I'm a daughter of the High King. No, but I think it's funny that I was reading Revelation while this was all going down, because it's. If you haven't read it, you got to read it. It's wild. It's like. It's a wild book. But, like, something that I've really been able to believe in, like, capture lately, is that, like, I. Like, God has already won. And because I believe in God and because I am a daughter of, like, Christ, I have already won, too. So it. I don't know. Like, I just. I feel like a winner. I feel like a winner. And, like, I. It puts everything also into perspective because I'm, like, thankful for that. But also I feel like I have this purpose in this message, and, like, I want other people to win, too, and I want them to see that as well. And so. So, yeah, I don't know. I feel like God's telling me, like, hey, like, we already won. Like, calm down.

[Jordan]

Like, chill out.

[Danny Austin]

Like, chill out.

[Jordan]

I'll take that. That's a great answer. Profound.

[Danny Austin]

Okay, so we will end this podcast with things like, I literally.

[Jordan]

I feel like this is, like, so vulnerable.

[Danny Austin]

No, it's not. Okay, well, it will become less.

[Jordan]

Okay.

[Danny Austin]

I make Stella do it. What did she say last night? She said something so funny. Oh, my God. I can't remember. This was. It was, like, so silly.

[Jordan]

Oh, in bed.

[Danny Austin]

Funny. Yeah. What. What did she say? You woke up, you walked up, and we were talking about.

[Jordan]

Yeah, she said, like, was, like, swimming or something or, like. No, it was.

[Danny Austin]

I don't know. Anyway. Okay, so. Yes. What are three things that you're grateful for?

[Jordan]

I'm honestly grateful for this podcast. I feel like it's. It felt like we had to kind of show up, and there was just, like, this whole season that we went through, and it was, like, really hard to kind of, like, just put that to the side in our private lives. It feels good that it's kind of, like, out and talked about. And I'm really proud of you for this podcast.

[Danny Austin]

2.

[Jordan]

I would say I am just really thankful this podcast reminded me of just, like, the complete ownership that you've taken over, like, motherhood with our children. And it's like, it's hard for people to understand and know unless you, like, lived in this home with us. But it's, like, insane. I mean, it's like the mother is always going to be the heart of the home. And I just. I believe that to my core because I tried to be that, you know, and I couldn't do it. And I'm just really proud of you, and I'm grateful for that. And then three is we get to leave and not work after this and, like, go look at some houses.

[Danny Austin]

We were just like, we're content in our houses. We're like, we're going to look at. Yeah, no, those are great, but only just to.

[Jordan]

To fill it with many ninos.

[Danny Austin]

That's honestly our biggest issue is we want.

[Jordan]

We're out of bedrooms, we want more.

[Danny Austin]

Kids, and we have no room. So. Okay. So mine are not as deep.

[Jordan]

It's okay.

[Danny Austin]

Okay. I'm grateful for my brown cowboy boots that I'm gonna wear today because literally, like, no shoes fit me right now. Also, no clothes fit me. And I found this outfit in my closet, too. So I'm grateful for this outfit. Is this the first time I've not worn sweatshirt? Have you noticed that?

[Jordan]

Oh, yeah, yeah. No, it looks great.

[Danny Austin]

It's kind of sweats, but they're like. It's like a skirt. And then I'm grateful for. Oh, Theo Von Podcast right now on YouTube. Oh, my God, he's so funny.

[Jordan]

I know. You're, like, obsessed with him. It's so funny. He's, like, been around for forever, and you're just like, have you heard of this Theo Von guy? And it's like, yeah, everyone has.

[Danny Austin]

He is so funny. Funny. Like, his humor is like. He's quick.

[Jordan]

Yeah, he's very smart.

[Danny Austin]

Oh, my gosh. I can't even repeat some of the things he says, though. And I'm also thankful for my spectra. Hospital grade pump. Pump. Breast pump. Yeah, I feel like it really gets. Cleans it out. Clean. Cleans the milk out.

[Jordan]

The sound is. Is a very strange form of asmr, let me tell you.

[Danny Austin]

I got it from my Slurpee. My hospital had, like, I got it through insurance, which was like, cool. I was like, oh, this stuff works. Insurance.

[Jordan]

You'll do something.

[Danny Austin]

You'll actually do something that helps me.

[Jordan]

Gen Z will love that comment.

[Danny Austin]

Yeah. They sent it, like, two days after I got home. And I was like, oh, my gosh, this is the best thing insurance has ever done for me that I'm aware of. So. So, yeah, cool. You know what? Comment 3 things you're grateful for below.

[Jordan]

That she was gonna say, let's. Let's please end in a prayer.

[Danny Austin]

Comment three things below you're grateful for, too. We gotta start doing that more. I'm serious. Okay?

[Sponsor Voice / Advertiser]

They're like, she's growth hacking her podcast.

[Jordan]

With this gratitude bullcrap she made up.

[Danny Austin]

Okay. Seriously, though, okay? I love you guys, and we'll talk to you later. Bye. Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.